Shloka 5
नलस्य दमयन्त्युत्सर्गः
Nala’s Abandonment of Damayantī in the Lodging Hall
अक्षदय्यूते नल॑ जेता भवान् हि सहितो मया । निषधान् प्रतिपद्यस्व जित्वा राज्यं नल॑ नृपम्,मेरे साथ रहकर तुम जूएमें अवश्य राजा नलको जीत लोगे। इस प्रकार महाराज नलको उनके राज्यसहित जीतकर निषधदेशको अपने अधिकारमें कर लो'
akṣadyūte nala jetā bhavān hi sahito mayā | niṣadhān pratipadyasva jitvā rājyaṃ nala nṛpam ||
布利哈达湿婆说道：“在掷骰之局中，你必定能胜过那罗王，因为我将与你同在。既已赢下那罗并其王国，便夺取尼沙陀，使之归你掌控。”
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma can operate through seemingly “legal” means like gambling: a ruler’s loss of self-mastery (and others’ exploitation of it) becomes a pathway to unjust seizure of sovereignty. It implicitly warns that power gained through deceit and addiction undermines righteous kingship.
Bṛhadaśva tells the addressee (in the Nala episode, the instigator of the dice-match) that with his support Nala will be defeated in dice, and that after winning, the victor should take over Niṣadha—conquering Nala together with his kingdom.